Ex-F1 driver suggests social media silence was way of 'bringing attention' to Lewis Hamilton

Former Formula 1 driver Robert Doornbos has said that he is happy that Lewis Hamilton is back for another year in the sport but suggests that the Briton’s social media silence post-Abu Dhabi in December was ‘attention-seeking.’

Hamilton was controversially denied a record-breaking 8th world championship title on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix back in December, and after that he went into a period of silence on social media – which prompted speculation over his future.

He broke that silence earlier this month, though, and is now fully invested in trying to help Mercedes maintain their dominance as Formula 1 enters an exciting new era with new regulations.

That all said, Doornbos is pleased that the man with the most race wins in the sport’s history is staying on the grid, but he did suggest that there was some ‘attention-seeking’ over the off-period from the Briton.

“Mercedes took a long time to reveal everything,” Doornbos began in his column for the Dutch edition of Top Gear.

“They have just come out of a winter break where Hamilton has been taking it easy. I don’t know if that is a good preparation for the team and I find it all a bit unsettling.

“They don’t really have Hamilton under control. As a team you want to be able to control where and when your driver is somewhere, but I don’t think this is very professional.

“It doesn’t take anything away from his skills, and he is and will remain a legend. I am certainly happy that he is back, but the way he is doing it is a form of bringing attention to himself.”

In all truth, Hamilton was probably just rightly taking a break from things after Abu Dhabi, especially after an incredibly intense ending to an already stressful season.

Hopefully, we’ll see the best of